NEW CLINIC FOR NORTH
A NEW $1.8 million medical centre that provides Geelong’s only specialist migrant refugee service will be built in the northern suburbs.
After his first application was rejected seven months ago, Dr Abbas Mahmood last night convinced councillors to support a revised bid for the two-storey facility in Norlane.
Dr Mahmood, who owns the Corio Bay Medical Centre, has been searching for years to find a suitable site to expand his offering.
The new Sparks Rd centre would double its capacity for the refugee service, hosting up to 14 practitioners on the site.
Council officers had recommended refusing the application, stating that the scale and intensity of the centre was inappropriate in a residential neighbourhood.
But a six-councillor panel unanimously agreed to back the development, subject to a number of conditions.
These include acoustic fencing around the border of the whole property, reduced operating hours and a restriction on the number of practitioners after 6pm on weekdays.
Windermere councillor An- thony Aitken said there was a shortage of GPs not just in the northern suburbs, but across Geelong.
He said the medical centre would provide an “overwhelming benefit” in the third most disadvantaged area in the country.
“The level of investment in the area is practically zero,” Cr Aitken said.
“This investment should be supported and welcomed by the council.”
Cr Ron Nelson said while there were “a couple of negatives” with the application, he agreed with the pressing demand for the facility.
“There is a real genuine need in the community.
“If the State Government won’t spend money out there, it is up to the council to support private enterprise to do it.”